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      • Russet Lake in Garibaldi Park
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  • Snow
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      • Wedgemount Lake Snowshoeing
  • Run
      • Whistler Golf Course 5k(3.1 Mile)
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      • Alta Green Lost 15k(9.3 Mile)
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      • Best Whistler Parks & Beaches
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  • AtoZ
      • Ablation Zone
      • Accumulation Zone
      • Adit Lakes
      • Aiguille
      • Alpine Zone
      • Arête
      • Armchair Glacier
      • A River Runs Through It
      • The Barrier
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      • Bergschrund or Schrund
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      • Fitzsimmons Creek
      • Fitzsimmons Range
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      • Garibaldi Volcanic Belt
      • Gemel or Inosculation
      • Glacier Window
      • Green Lake
      • Hoary Marmot
      • Krummholz
      • Moraine
      • Mount Garibaldi
      • Mount James Turner
      • Northair Mine
      • Nunatuk
      • Overlord Mountain & Glacier
      • Peak2Peak Gondola
      • Roundhouse Lodge
      • Rubble Creek
      • Spearhead Range
      • Tarn
      • The Table
      • Usnea or Old Man's Beard
  • Maps
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      • Hike in Whistler Glossary

Panorama Ridge

Cirque Lake

Wedgemount Lake

Rainbow Falls

Whistler Train Wreck

Sloquet Hot Springs

Brandywine Meadows

Black Tusk

Snowshoeing in Whistler!

Whistler is amazing for snowshoeing! Parkhurst Ghost Town, The Flank Trail, Rainbow Falls, Cheakamus River are all fantastic to explore when there is a ton of snow on the ground! Check out our Best Snowshoeing Trails in Whistler here!

Garibaldi Provincial Park!

This is the first winter where the Rubble Creek trailhead to Garibaldi Provincial Park will be snowplowed! Now you can snowshoe from the trailhead to Garibaldi Lake, Taylor Meadows and deep into Garibaldi Provincial Park!

Russet Lake is a surreal little paradise that lays at the base of The Fissile. The Fissile is the strikingly bronze mountain visible from Whistler Village.  From the Village look into the distance at the Peak2Peak hanging between Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain and you will see The Fissile. Its pyramid shape in the distance perfectly separates the two mountains.

  • At least 5 amazing routes to this hidden paradise
  • The Fissile looms ominously over the lake
  • Overlord Glacier fills the valley below and across
  • The hut at Russet Lake is free to use
  • Every direction you look is shockingly beautiful
  • Adit Lakes is a hidden world nearby
  • Scrambling routes up & beyond The Fissile!
  • Musical Bumps Trail to Russet is very beautiful
  • Russet Lake is not as beautiful as other lakes
  • The old 5k access road is inaccessible due to slide

Though Russet Lake is not terribly impressive in terms of size or colour, the valley around it is remarkably beautiful. The colours change from moment to moment in and extraordinary way. The distinctive colour of The Fissile and the stark grey of the mountains around contrast amazingly with the blue of the lake and green grass in the valley. So many different factors fill the place with colour.  There are several ways to get to hike Russet Lake.  The Singing Pass trail from the base of Whistler Mountain near the Whistler Gondola. The Musical Bumps trail that begins near the top of the Whistler Gondola.  The High Note trail that begins at the top of the Peak Chair on Whistler Mountain. There is an increasingly popular route that begins from Blackcomb Mountain.  And finally, a very infrequently hiked route from Cheakamus Lake that runs along Singing Creek. In short, the three ways to get to Russet Lake are 1. Musical Bumps (direct route and beautiful), 2. High Note trail (a bit longer but even more beautiful), and the Singing Pass trail (not as nice as the previous two and constantly uphill, but no expensive gondola charge).  All three routes are have signs and well established trails. None are very difficult with the exception of being long trails. Though each can be done in a day, 28 kilometres of hiking in one day is quite a long way.

Russet Lake is a beautiful place to camp.  It has a wonderful hut available to use by anyone.  It is a basic wooden hut with no facilities, but surprisingly comfortable.  It holds up to 12 crowded or 8 comfortable. There is also an outhouse and a beautiful stream that runs along the massive camping area. There are no tent platforms but over a dozen tent clearings.  There is a considerable amount of exploring available in the valley around Russet Lake. The Fissile is a difficult but very feasible hike from Russet Lake.  Below Russet Lake is a very accessible glacier as well as a bonanza of glacier formed landscape features, inviting hours of interesting exploration.  Above Russet Lake there is a beautiful snow covered ridge that commands incredible views all around and if you have the energy makes for a spectacular tent site.

Russet Lake Map - Hike in Whistler

Russet Lake Sunset, BC Parks Garibaldi Provincial Park

Aerial View of The Fissile and Russet Lake

Russet Lake - Hike in Whistler

Moderately Challenging with Steep HillsTaking the Musical Bumps trail that begins at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain is arguably the best route to Russet Lake.  It is fairly direct(12.5 kilometres) to Russet Lake) and full of incredible views. Alpine forests, massive valleys, small alpine lakes, dramatic mountain views all around.  The trail has considerable elevation gain and loss though.  The trail is well marked with signs directing you along the Musical Bumps trail.  You won't see Russet Lake signs until you reach the trail junction at the Singing Pass trail.  This route is a very popular trail running route in Whistler.  From the Roundhouse Lodge to the Village is 24 kilometres, and much of it downhill.  To find the Russet Lake trailhead, take the Whistler Gondola up to the Roundhouse Lodge.  Walk out of the Gondola and past the Peak2Peak Gondola building, up a gravel slope about 50 metres.  On your left you will see a trailhead.

Russet Lake Musical Bumps Trail - Hike in Whistler

Russet Lake via Musical Bumps Trail

More Russet Lake Hiking Info...

Whistler Hiking Trail MapAlexander Falls Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapAncient Cedars Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapBlack Tusk Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapBlackcomb Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapBrandywine Falls Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapBrandywine Meadows Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapBrew Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapCallaghan Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapCheakamus Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapCheakamus River Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapCirque Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapGaribaldi Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapHelm Creek Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapJoffre Lakes Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapKeyhole Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapLogger’s Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapMadeley Lake Map Whistler Hiking Trail MapMeager Hot Springs Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapNairn Falls Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapPanorama Ridge Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapParkhurst Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapRainbow Falls Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapRainbow Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapRing Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapRusset Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapSkookumchuck Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapSloquet Hot Springs Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapSproatt Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapTaylor Meadows Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapTrain Wreck Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapWedgemount Lake Maps  Whistler Hiking Trail MapWhistler Mountain Maps

Whistler Hiking Glossary

 Ablation Zone WhistlerAblation Zone  Accumulation Zone WhistlerAccumulation Zone  Adit Lakes WhistlerAdit Lakes  Aiguille Whistler & Garibaldi ParkAiguille  Alpine Zone Whistler & Garibaldi ParkAlpine Zone  ArborlithArborlith  Arete Whistler & Garibaldi ParkArête  A River Runs Through It WhistlerARRTI  Armchair Glacier, Garibaldi Park, WhistlerArmchair Glacier  The Barrier in Garibaldi ParkThe Barrier  Battleship Islands in Garibaldi LakeBattleship Islands  Bears in Whistler & Garibaldi ParkBears  Bench Geology WhistlerBench  Bergschrund or SchrundBergschrund  BivouacBivouac  Whistler Bungee BridgeBungee Bridge  Bushwhacking in WhistlerBushwhack  Whistler CairnsCairn  Neal CarterCarter, Neal  Garibaldi Park WhistlerChimney  Garibaldi Park WhistlerCirque  Cloudraker SkybridgeCloudraker  Douglas FirCoast Douglas-fir  Coast MountainsCoast Mountains  ColCol  Columnar JointingColumnar Jointing  CordilleranCordilleran  CorniceCornice  Corrie LakeCorrie Lake  CrevasseCrevasse  Alec DalgleishDalgleish, Alec  Deadfall in WhistlerDeadfall  Emerald Park in WhistlerEmerald Forest  Erratics in Garibaldi Park and WhistlerErratic  The Fissile in Garibaldi Park, WhistlerThe Fissile  Fitzsimmons Creek in WhistlerFitzsimmons Creek  Fitzsimmons Range, WhistlerFitzsimmons Range  Garibaldi Park WhistlerFyles, Tom  Garibaldi Park WhistlerGaribaldi Ranges  Garibaldi Park WhistlerGaribaldi Volcanic Belt  Garibaldi Park WhistlerGemel  Garibaldi Park WhistlerGlacier Window  Garibaldi Park WhistlerGreen Lake  Garibaldi Park WhistlerHoary Marmot  Garibaldi Park WhistlerKrummholz  Lodgepole Pine Trees WhistlerLodgepole Pine  Glacier Moraines in Garibaldi Park WhistlerMoraine  Garibaldi Park WhistlerMt Garibaldi  Mount James Turner in Garibaldi Park, WhistlerMt James Turner  Mountain Hemlock Garibaldi Park WhistlerMountain Hemlock  Northair Mine in WhistlerNorthair Mine  North Arm FarmNorth Arm  Nunatuks in Whistler and Garibaldi ParkNunatuk  Nurse Stump or Log in WhistlerNurse Stump  Overlord Mountain and GlacierOverlord  Pacific Yew, WhistlerPacific Yew  Paper Birch, WhistlerPaper Birch  Parkhurst CaterpillarParkhurst Cat  Parkhurst Caterpillar RD8Parkhurst RD8  Parkhurst CletracParkhurst Cletrac  Parkhurst Plow TreeParkhurst Plow Tree  Parkhurst RidgeParkhurst Ridge  Parkhurst SawmillParkhurst Sawmill  Parkhurst WyeParkhurst Wye  Peak 2 Peak GondolaPeak 2 Peak  Rainbow Lodge, WhistlerRainbow Lodge  Garibaldi Park WhistlerRoundhouse  Garibaldi Park WhistlerRubble Creek  Garibaldi Park WhistlerScree  Garibaldi Park WhistlerSpearhead Range  Garibaldi Park WhistlerTarn  Garibaldi Park WhistlerThe Table  Garibaldi Park WhistlerTownsend, Charles  Usnea or Old Man's BeardUsnea  Waterbar or Cross DitchWaterbar  Western Hemlock Trees in WhistlerWestern Hemlock  Western RedcedarWestern Redcedar  Whistler SpruceWhistler Spruce  Mills Winram Whistler Coast Mountains MountaineerWinram, Mills

The Fissile is the stunning Matterhorn-looking mountain that is visible from Village Gate Boulevard in Whistler.  Looking up from Village Gate you will see ...
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Russet Lake sits in a wide, glacier carved valley at the base of The Fissile.  In the direction opposite The Fissile, up on a plateau less than a ...
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Crevasse: is a split or crack in the glacier surface, often with near vertical walls.  Crevasses form out of the constant movement of a glacier over ...
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Parkhurst Ridge is an incredible spot for a lot of reasons.  Of course, the view is spectacular with Green Lake's absurdly vivid green coloured water.  ...
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Hidden in the tangle of forest along Green Lake where the old Parkhurst Sawmill once operated, is the bizarre and beautiful Parkhurst Plow Tree.  A very ...
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Paper birch, also known as white birch is a type of birch tree that grows in northern North America. Named for its paper-like, white or cream coloured ...
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The rocky and narrow row of islands in Garibaldi Lake just offshore from the Garibaldi Lake campsite are known as Battleship Islands.  Named by the ...
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Columnar Jointing: bizarre looking columns of oddly angular rock formations that can be found in many places around Whistler and worldwide.  Generally ...
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Hiking Gear Rental Whistler and Garibaldi Park

Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking

Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerAlexander Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyAncient Cedars  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerBlack Tusk  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerBlackcomb Mountain  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerBrandywine Falls  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrandywine Meadows  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyBrew Lake  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerCallaghan Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerCheakamus Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyCheakamus River  Whistler Hiking Trail HardCirque Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyFlank Trail  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerGaribaldi Park  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerHelm Creek  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyJane Lakes  Joffre Lakes Hike in Whistler in SeptemberJoffre Lakes  Moderate Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyKeyhole Hot Springs  Hiking Trail Hard Dog FriendlyLogger’s Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyMadeley Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyMeager Hot Springs Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerNairn Falls  Whistler Hiking Trail HardNewt Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerPanorama Ridge  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerParkhurst Ghost Town  Hiking Trail ModerateRainbow Falls  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRainbow Lake  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyRing Lake  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerRusset Lake  Whistler Hiking Trail EasySea to Sky Trail  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSkookumchuck Hot Springs  Easy Hiking Trail WhistlerSloquet Hot Springs  Moderate/Hard Hiking Trail Whistler Dog FriendlyMount Sproatt  Moderate Hiking Trail WhistlerTaylor Meadows  Whistler Hiking Trail EasyTrain Wreck  Hiking Trail Hard - Whistler TrailsWedgemount Lake  Pay Use Hiking Trail WhistlerWhistler Mountain

  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking JanuaryJanuary  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking FebruaryFebruary  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking MarchMarch  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking AprilApril  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking MayMay  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking JuneJune  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking JulyJuly  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking AugustAugust  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking SeptemberSeptember  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking OctoberOctober  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking NovemberNovember  Best Whistler & Garibaldi Park Hiking DecemberDecember 

The short, winding, and ever-changing hiking trail to Rainbow Falls is the same as the much more popular trailhead for Rainbow Lake.  The trailhead is marked as the Rainbow Trail, and the trail quickly ...
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*Temporarily closed in 2020/2021* Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is a gorgeous park with extraordinarily coloured lakes, waterfalls, stunning mountain peaks and ominous glaciers pouring into the valley.  Joffre ...
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Cheakamus River is a beautiful, crashing, turquoise coloured river that flows from Cheakamus Lake, through Whistler Interpretive Forest at Cheakamus Crossing, then down past Brandywine Falls to Daisy Lake.  ...
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Brandywine Meadows is a nice, relatively short hike to a massive flower filled valley high up in Callaghan Valley. Located 40 minutes south of Whistler, this tough and sometimes muddy trail gains a huge 550 ...
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More Whistler Hiking Trails & Maps

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